A survey on ectoparasites and endoparasites of African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) in urban and suburban areas of Morogoro municipal, Tanzania

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ectoparasites and endoparasites of the African pygmy hedgehogs in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania. A total of 20 African pygmy hedgehogs were captured during the study period, among the captured individuals twelve were females and eight were males. The ectoparasites and endoparasite prevalence was found to be 60% (12/20) and 45% (9/20) respectively. Ectoparasites found from the infested hedgehogs were exclusively hard ticks, composing the three species of hard ticks namely Haemaphysalis leachi, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) sp. and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus. The endoparasite identified were helminthes from one genus of nematodes namely Aspiculuris and Stongyle nematode egg and a trematode egg. The results of the present study will contribute to the general knowledge of the parasites of African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) in Tanzania.